Badagas

Badagas are inspirational and zealous people who have made their home
amidst the ooty hills. Their tradition and culture is very unique. They
enjoy full cultural freedom and excitement in terms of the various
festivities,food,dance and music. There are occasion-based foods, daily
foods and seasonal foods.They are nature lovers and most of their
customs are nature oriented which means they live healthy. Food
especially is prepared with a lot of ardor and care. Though a minority
group they are well known for their culture. They are farmers by
occupation, their main cultivation being coffee and tea. They also
produce carrots,cabbages,radishes,potatoes and strawberry. They export
tea and strawberry. Their weddings are simple and elegant.

Village Structure

There are nearly 350 villages. These villages are broadly divided
into four partitions (naakubetta) based on the marital arrangements. As
per the ancestral laws of the land, no two people can marry within the
same partition as they are considered as brothers and sisters. There is
one common head for all these four partitions.
Every village has a head (gowda). Under him is an executive committee.
Together they take care of the village internal and external affairs.
They manage their financial matters by collecting equal amount of tax
from the villagers for every village related events. Their decisions are
always taken based on the greater good of the village. Everyone is
expected to respect and honor the final decision of the committee.
The houses are compact with open space in front of their houses. Each
house has a drawing room, hall, kitchen, puja room and a small attic
connected to the ground floor by a wooden ladder. Every house normally
has an extended structure in the front for seating visitors and a wooden
granary for storing grains. This is in the shape of a rectangle and
sometimes it is used as a cot too. The house is equipped with
permanently fixed mortar and pestle and grinding stones separately for
dry and wet grinding.

Festivals

The annual godly festival (mariabba& hethaiabba) is very important
as this festival is meant especially for their beloved daughters. This
is a chance for the parents to see and honor their daughters who are
married and are located elsewhere. When the daughter enjoys the
festivity and leaves for her in-laws home which is now hers too, the
parents send her back with all the home made goodies, a new sari and
some money. It is a tradition that has been handed down for many
generations.
This habba is an unspoken testimony for the bonds that run deep within
the community. Strangers and relatives are treated alike with respect
and love. Being a daughter born into a huge family, this festival is
very close to my heart. As I see my parents that day every year awaiting
my arrival along with my family, I know what it is to be special. May
the great Mariamma bless all of us for a clear mind and a open heart and
many more such happy occasions.

Food and Dress

The dress code:
All the women wear white cloth(mundu) over their saris and all the men
are expected to wear crisp white shirts and dhotis on important
occasions or visits to the temple. It is a sight to behold as the entire
village turns into a sea of white.
Delicacy:
A variety of delicacies are prepared during festivals, the main item
being thuppathitu (something like puri but sweet and yummy). In the
vegetarian dishes, beans curry holds a special place. In the non-veg
section chicken is consumed vastly.

UNESCO has acknowledged that Badagas are the best people known for their hospitality.

Dance

This is an integral part of all the festivals. Youngsters and elders
all shake a leg to the traditional drum beat. The teenagers are the most
excited lot willing to show off their traditional dance with a new
twist. It is a miracle that even a baby can dance to the beat and tune
just by observing the crowd and without anybody actually teaching him or
her.

Ittu Ceremony

For the first pregnancy during the seventh month the bride's family
goes to the bridegrooms house with their close relatives. There they
prepare a feast for groom's family as a gesture of good relations
between both families. And then they take the bride to the maternal home
for the delivery. After nearly one month, all the relatives of the
bride and groom come to the bride's maternal house to prepare a veg or
non-veg feast for the new mother-to-be. This is done as a good will
initiative.

Scindhia Halan is an observer, enthusiastic reader, blogger and self- published author who likes to dabble in various activities. She has self -published two books to her credit. Also a business woman by profession, she loves coffee, books, movies and basically anything that inspires her. She shares her take on the world through